Cum selector switch mecahnism with lost motion structure for use in electro-mechanical timers

ABSTRACT

An appliance motor speed control system with a simplified space saving rotatable permutation switching component for multiple field coil windings in which switches are permuted in patterns to change the effective impedance of the motor field and without energizing the motor during transition from one setting to another. The component includes sequential speed selection switching between light switches rated to break the electrical current. Single-pole double-throw switches further conserve space and parts while push-in wire connections reduce assembly time and production costs.

United States Patent 12/1900 Vance 2,473,287 6/1949 Maloney 74/568 X 3,306,996 2/1967 Simmons et a1.. 200/38 B 1,480,276 1/1924 Leake 200/153.20 2,309,915 2/1943 Mulock 200/153.20 2,619,557 11/1952 lllian 200/18 X 3,053,947 9/1962 Bowman et a1. 200/38 C 3,126,759 3/1964 Cook 200/38 B1 X 3,286,046 11/1966 Mincone 200/17 X 3,449,699 6/1969 Davin ZOO/38 B X Primary Examiner--.l. R. Scott Attorney-Harbaugh and Thomas ABSTRACT: An appliance motor speed control system with a simplified space saving rotatable permutation switching component for multiple field coil windings in which switches are permuted in patterns to change the eiiective impedance of the motor field and without energizing the motor during transition from one setting to another. The component includes sequential speed selection switching between light switches rated to break the electrical current. Single-pole double-throw switches further conserve space and parts while push-in wire connections reduce assembly time and production costs.

PATENTEDUECMIHYI 3527,93

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7+J g2 24 56L 6*l INVENTORS. R0) L. SWAN/(E WILL/AM J. C LON MM Attorneys CAM EC DR WIIC M CHANI M WI' LHLQST MOTION STRUCTURE FOR USE IN ELECTRO- MECI-IANICAL TIMERS CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A wide range of fixed agitator speeds has been provided in appliances for the best results when ingredients are being comminuted, mixed, or blended, and, for simplicity of opera tion by the housewife, single finger, individually actuated speed selector devices have been devised generally involving a multipushbutton permutation switching assembly that requires sizable panel and subpanel spaces to accommodate the parts required. The resulting sizes of housings involved presents an appearance of bulk that confronts purchasers with problems of storage, cleaning and handling. Furthermore, although the many pushbuttons employed may be sequentially arranged, numbered and even labeled for user convenience, there are many users who react with confusion to such panels and button arrays and would rather, with or without reading glasses, orient themselves or learn to relate particular speeds to relative positions on an indicated speed range chart. Accordingly, the consideration of relative appliance size, adequate but not excessive capacity, ease of cleaning and storing, versatility, power, and convenience in all aspects become primary considerations along with safety and ease of handling and also production economies without loss of quality and longevity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention, the rectilineal working length of a multipushbutton switch component is in concept translated to a working circle requiring less than one-third the panel space taken by multispeed pushbutton switches, the projected area on the panel varying geometrically as the radius with additional speeds instead of the lineal dimension with additional pushbuttons.

By way of example, considering an 8 pushbutton switch on the one hand with the pushbuttons separated one-half inch for finger clearance on a housing 4 inch length by 1 inch width by l .5 inch diameter requiring 4 square inches of panel space and on the other hand circumferentially spacing the speed stations about a circle in a rotary switch the same distance for 360 operatiomthe circumference would be substantially less than 4 inches due to elimination of slider excursion space and dual end sliders. The diameters of less than the 1.3 inch rotor and the comparable area for panel space would be 1.33 square inches instead of 4 square inches. This is approximately a reduction to a third of the space. However, with the invention the spacing between speed selections stations can be threetenths inch or less due also to the elimination of lineal excursion space. Several improved arrangements are made possible. Either 12 speed stations or permutations can be accommodated in 360 of rotation with the same number of six or less permutation switches, or, eight speed stations can be controlled in 240 of rotation, or, with eight speed stations the rotor diameter can be reduced at least to 1 inch for a still further reduction of required panel area. This is less than 1 square inch.

Moreover, the spacing of the switches in an axial direction can be narrowed to as little as three-eighths inch which, with eight switches including a main switch and diode switch, reduces the axial span of switches to as little as 3 inches. This for height comes within the height of the motor in the housing and this with less than one-third of the panel area heretofore required with pushbuttons frees design considerations from large mechanical space requirements. Along with these space economies are many economies in material and size that are attractive for small kitchens and bar use without loss of capacity for general and regular uses.

A rotatable multiple switch assembly having a unitized, movable permutation control is provided with a series of cams or recesses arranged circumferentially to actuate movable contacts of single-pole single-throw resilient conductor switches and single-pole double-throw center "off" resilient conductor switches, or intenningled switches of both types according to predetermined speed selection patterns. The switches are actuated to connect individualized field coil windings of a universal motor selectively in series or parallel, or both, in various permutations to change the effective impedance of the motor field for fixed motor speed selection purposes.

Further objects and advantages are attained by not energizing the motor until the speed control is set and released, thus providing an OFF" condition during adjustment of the switch assembly after which the motor is energized at the speed selected. A dial is used in which there is a resilient lost motion between a manually actuated knob and a follower element which serves as a speed indicator with respect to a scale of speeds on the instrument panel. A main switch is controlled by the cooperation of the two elements and is normally in closed position when the two elements are free to assume a resting position at a speed station. While being moved in either direction the elements cooperate to hold the main switch open.

The follower element is a rotatable element having a cylindrical surface with circular paths having recesses or both recesses and cam rises in them at predetermined speed stations that control the permutation of the spring switch blades disposed tangentially thereto. All permutations are completed with all selected switches closed before the main switch is closed and then the main switch is closed to energize the circuit upon the manual release of the knob. Furthermore, the motor can be momentarily stopped at any setting by slight movement of the dial without changing the setting.

Increased numbers of speed selections along with minimization of space requirements and a reduction of costs are objects of the invention and contemplate a compact assembly of economical speed selector switches totaling as few as four resilient conductor switch blades for speed permutations in various circuits of four field coils of different wire gage sizes and impedance which were simultaneously cowound directly on each pole in one winding operation. The speed selections are related to various combinations of the coils with various combinations of switches. The field coil switches are selectively closed first and opened last with respect to the operation of a heavy-duty main switch which makes and breaks the working current. The speed selective switches are lightly built as rated to merely conduct current and do not require expensive contact elements to provide excellent electrical conductivity as long as they are nonoxidizing or have a wiping action, or both.

A further object of the invention is to enable the use of a timer such as shown in Valbona Ser. No. 878,432 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,58l,028 for any selected speeds merely by actuation of the timer without all speed control switches being required to be in OFF position, thereby providing greater versatility and a simplified control for the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide particularized selections of different field coils not only for series connection but also for parallel connection on either side or both sides of a serially connected armature.

Another object of the invention is to provide a circuit control that is easily manufactured and assembled and having a ruggedness and dependability that substantially eliminates servicing and repair.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views with or without additional suffix identifications.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a liquidizer including a timer jogger control and a rotatable speed control permutation switch assembly embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rotatable speed control permutation switch shown in FIGS. II and 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the switch shown in FIGS. 1-3 illustrating the assembling of the switch;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views taken on lines 6-6 and 77, respectively, of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6A illustrated the initial movement relation of the main switch operation when the switch is being rotated to a speed station;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view showing the structure of individual switch elements in the switch and their mode of assembly;

FIG. 9 is an electrical schematic of a representative circuit used in the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a graph of the possible fixed speed selection available with the four field coil circuit of FIG. 9 in the present invention utilizing seven speed control switches and an OFF" switch;

FIG. 11 is a chart of seven fixed speed selections showing the permutation of the seven switches including the field coils and a diode and a flattened planar view of the circular surface of the rotatable switch control; and

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view similar to FIG. 8 showing how adjacent switch elements can be connected;

FIG. I3 is an electrical schematic of a representative circuit embodying the present invention;

FIG. I4 is a complanate view of the surface elements of the rotor shown in FIG. 15;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a representative portion of another rotatable speed control permutation switch rotor embodying the invention;

FIGS. I6, 16A and 16B are diagrammatic views of the switches, connections and arrangement of the elements carried by the switch housing to coact with the rotor shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, as related to the circuit shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the supported end of the lower one of the dual acting switch members illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 19;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the supported end of the upper dual acting switch member illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 19; and

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the switch illustrated in FIG. 15 showing the arrangement of the switch elements of the dual acting switch shown in FIG. 17.

EMBODIMENTS OF INVENTION Referring now to the drawings in further detail the base 10 of a universal motor driven liquefier supports a cloverleafshaped blender jar 14 in operative position and has a switch control panel 12 which occupies a comparatively small space to receive in supporting relationship a rotatably controlled permutation speed switch component indicated at 16 and a timer-jogger control at 18.

The timer-jogger 18 may be constructed and arranged as shown in Valbona, Ser. No. 878,432 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,58 l .028, reference to which is hereby made for considerations relating thereto. By way of examples, the main switch (8) and the timer-jogger switch 18 may be connected in series (FIG. 13), in which case, preferably, the timer-jogger has two settings, a manual setting M (FIG. 1) in which the timer switch T] is closed to allocate the energization of the circuit to the main switch (8). and a timer setting T whereby the main switch when closed allocates the energization of the circuit to the control of the timer switch TJ. Otherwise the jogger switch TJ may be connected in parallel as shown (FIG. 9) wherein a high-speed switch permutation is set up for timing and jogging when the main switch (8) is opened in OFF" position whereby the jogging can be accomplished only at a high speed.

Both components have housings secured to the panel by machine screws 11 (FIG. 2) with the control shaft means extending through the panel to receive the respective control knob 20T for the timer-jogger l8 and the two elements making up the knob assembly 208 for the speed control switch.

The general construction of the switch 16 comprises a housing 22 that includes an essentially cylindrical half portion 24 of its circumference and a rectangular portion 26 for its remaining half portion which has an opening at 28 for assembly of the working parts. The ends 30 of the housing at 31 journal a rotor portion 32 in the housing and parallel channels 34 are provided along the longitudinal sides of the opening 28 to receive the base portions 36 of the conductors 38 and stationary contacts 40 of spring switch conductor blades 42, and as more particularly described later. With the switches in place the opening 28 is closed by a cover plate 44 having bearing ears 43 cooperating with the journals 31. Although the switches 42 can open with inward movement of the conductors, they are illustrated as self closing under the set resiliency of the conductor blades to cooperate with the knob action as controlled by the recesses 56 (FIG. 4) and cam protuberances 56A (FIG. 14) on the switch rotor later described.

Notches 46 in the inner walls 48 of the channels 34-locate the switches at axially spaced levels and openings 50 in the outer wall provide wire push-in connector access openings at the bases 36 which are lanced with an H cut formed to provide two converging tabs 52 which receive the bared ends 53 of a connector wire 55 between their ends in clamped electrically conductive relationship when inserted through the opening 50 as more particularly described in Vogelsonger Ser. No. 13,342. In the FIG. 4 embodiment E-shaped interconnectors 47 (FIG. 12) bridge bases where there are connections between switch bases 36. In the FIGS. 17-19 a modified form of the push-in wire connector switches are shown which will be described later.

The switch conductors 38 are spring supported at 51 and have a V-shaped follower contour 54 extending radially inwardly to cooperate with circumferentially spaced recesses 56 and cams 58 on the rotor 32 (FIG. 11). The switches close when the follower 54 is received in a recess. The recesses 56 formed in the circular paths on the surface of the rotor actuate the switches as they are rotated. They provide permutations as shown in FIG. 11 for the switches 32 in various combinations to the switches as they move.

For the purpose of moving the rotor to a selected speed station without energizing the motor at the stations traversed and for sequential operation of the main and speed switches a lost motion plate 60 (FIG. 6A) is journaled for limited relative movement on the rotor 32 at one end and as driven by the upper element 21 of the knob. 20S actuates the rotor 32. The rotor in turn is journaled on the housing at its top in a hollow hub 64 which extends above the panel to receive the lower knob element 23 having the speed selection indicator 61 on its periphery to cooperate with the speed selection indicia scale 69 on the panel. The indicator element 23 is secured to the hollow hub 64 and has a recess 13 in its upper surface to receive the knob element 21 in it as supported on a shaft 13 that extends through the hub 64 and rotor 32 in journaled relation. At its lower end the shaft 13 is journaled in the lower end wall 30 of the housing. The lost motion plate is secured to the bottom end of the shaft 13 for positive rotation thereof by the upper element 21 of the knob 208 through the shaft 13. The lower circular row of recesses 56L border the plate 60 and cooperate with the heavy main switch (8) while the other rows of recesses 56 and switches (1)-( 7) are narrow and disposed in closely spaced paths for the speed switches which are rated to merely carry current while closed.

The lost motion plate 60 has corresponding cooperating recesses 62 coincident with the upper row of recesses 56 to also cooperate with the main switch (8) and hold the main switch (8) open while the rotor 32 is being rotated to a selected position whereupon the lost motion plate adjusts under resilient closing effort of the switch (8) to close the main switch when rotation is stopped. The plate 60 has an arcuate slot 70 on it receiving loosely an axially extending pin 72 carried by the rotor 32. When the pin 72 and slot center radially with respect to each other, a recess 62 on the plate 60 coincides with one of the recesses 56L on the rotor to permit the main switch to close at every station except the OFF station.

As seen in FIGS. 6 and 6A the relative movement between the plate 60 and rotor 32 is thus limited to an extent that movement of the knob element 21 in either direction scissors the opposing sides of cooperating recesses 56L and 62 so that the main switch (8) is squeezed radially open with initial movement and is held open as the rotor is being propelled by the knob 21 of the control 205. The main switch follower 54M never completely enters both recesses when coincident therewith at each speed station during speed selection movement. Therefore the motor is not energized during speed selection movement and rides on the surface of the drum intermediate stations. Then when the knob element 21 is released after the rotor 32 has been brought to a speed station selected on scale 69, the spring tension on the follower 54M of the main switch (8) urges adjustment of the then free plate 60 to permit the switch (8) to close leaving the indicator 61 at the station selected and the rotor 32 resiliently held in place by the main switch with the permuted speed switches already closed by the appropriate recesses 56. Thus it will also be noted that the main switch (8) can be opened momentarily without changing stations if such is desired by the user.

For switch operative characteristics as controlled by the switch T6 the permutation recesses 56 are noted to be of a substantial circumferential length, even to the extent that those in the same path are connected where a switch closure occurs at adjacent stations. On the other hand, the main switch recesses 62 are of short circumferential length and none of these recesses are connected so that the main switch is opened quickly and closed quickly, as compared with the speed switches. The speed switches thereby are either in open or closed condition during the time that the main switch is being opened or closed.

Referring to a representative circuit the operation of the invention will be described in connection with the circuit and switch permutation pattern shown in FIGS. 9 and 13 with a two-pole stator (not shown) as illustrative of the versatility of the invention. There are four field coils of 120 turns each, of the wire gages shown, A No. 29, B No. 24, C No. 25, and D No. 28. The gage sizes are representative of the impedances of the coils. Coils A and B are cowound on one stator pole and coils C and D are cowound on the other stator pole. Three switches for each pair of coils follow the configuration in which both coils are connected at their respective ends identified by the suffixes l and 2 in parallel between one side ofa power source, either L or L and the armature R by connections 75 and 76, and 77 and 78, each connection having a single-throw single-pole switch (I), (3), (4) or (5) in FIG. 9. Each pair of coils is connected in series by a connection 79 and 80 having a third single-throw single-pole switch (2) or (5) in it. In FIG. 13 switches 2 and 3 and 5 and 6 are operated as single-pole double-throw switches, respectively, to reduce the number of switch blades utilized and thereby save space as later described.

With these arrangements the possible field coil permutations for speed control are shown in relation to the six effective permutation switches (1), (2), (3) for one pole and (4), (5), and (6) for the other pole. Preferably these switches do not provide any of the functions of additional switches (7) or (8), described later. It will be noted in the permutation chart of FIG. I that either one or more of the switch groups (1). (2) and (3), and (4), and (6) are involved in each permutation to provide seven distinct permutations, and, at no time is switch (2) or (5) closed when either both of switches (l) and (3), and (4) and (6) of their respective groups are closed, thereby preventing coil shorting.

In series between line L3 and coil connection D, is serially connected a main switch (8) and a diode Di shunted by switch (7). The timer switch TJ, which can serve also as a jogger switch, is normally open as already explained when the liquidizer is being manually operated, yet can be used to jog or time at a particular speed when the main switch (8) is open.

Thus, mathematically, there are available with the permutations of FIGS. 7 and 13 at least 16 usable speed selections all of which include energization of both stator poles. Of these [6 speeds, seven have been selected as shown in FIGS. 10 and 1 l with one speed the A/B C/D permutation being used twice, once with switches (1), (3), (4), (6), (7) closed for a selected operative high speed and also closed in the OFF" position for a high jogging speed when the jogging switch T] is used.

In FIG. 11 the recess layout plan of the rotor is shown which provides the switch closure permutations suggested for eight stations, namely, OFF and stations 1 to 7 which represent the speeds shown in FIG. 10. For instance, movement of the plate 60 by the upper dial element 21 of knob 20S lifts the main switch (8) in its initial movement (FIG. 6A) as already explained and breaks coincidence of the recesses 56 and 62 enough that the switch 8) will not be permitted to close until movement of the knob has been stopped at a selected station.

Assuming speed 5 is selected, when starting in the "OFF" position, switches (l), (3), (4), (6) and (7) which are closed in OFF" position will be opened when the rotor and plate are moved in a left direction as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 10, and switches (2) and (5) will be closed by the recesses 56 at this station while the main switch (8) will continue to be held open because of continuing rotation of the plate 60. At speed station 2 switch (2) will remain closed, switch (5) will be opened and switch (4) will be closed to provide the (2) (5) switch permutation noted for this speed. Station 3 will provide the (l) (4) switch permutation for speed 3. Station 4 will close switches (l), (3) and (4) of speed 4, and when station 5 is reached the switches (2), (4), (6) and (7) will be closed. Then when rotation of the knob 208 is stopped at this station with these switches closed, the knob will be released, the plate 60 carried thereby will be urged by the main spring (8) to move to full coincidence of the recesses 56 and 62 and the main switch will be permitted to close to energize the motor M if the timer switch is in "manual" position.

It will be observed that unless switch (7) is closed the diode Di is in the circuit to reduce the electrical potential across the motor for a lower speed range. However, when closed, switch (7) shunts the diode and applies full wave AC current to the motor for the higher speed range. If the timer switch TI is open, energization will not commence until the timer is set and released as already mentioned.

For sequential operation the speed selector switches and the diode switch, namely switches (l) to (7 are constructed for a rating of merely conducting the working current since the invention contemplates that they will not make or break the electrical current. They merely conduct it. The speed control switch permutations are completed and switches actuated either to open or to close while the main switch (8) is open, after which the main switch is closed. The loop with the spring support 51 provides a mild wiping action between the switch contacts since the spring supports are vertical and yield with a horizontal component of movement when the armatures 38 are actuated transversely. Moreover, this wiping movement is augmented by the reaction of the armatures with a longitudinal movement in either direction as the cams 58 and 58A on the rotor 32 rotatively actuate the V-shaped followers 54 on the armatures with an end-thrust component of force.

Thus, lighter, inexpensive switches rated for lesser current can be used for speed and diode switches and more closely spaced if it is desired to save space. The main switch (8) on the other hand, may be provided with a heavy make and break current rating. Thus, a greatly improved and less expensive switch unit is provided which has great versatility. For instance, not only is there a wide range of switch permutations available, but impedances of the coils can be changed to vary the speeds of various permutations or the coil connections to the switches can also be changed around for like purposes. Moreover, the operation of two switches can be combined in a single-pole double-throw switch to save axial space, both in the axial length of the rotor, and in the number of switch stations required. This is true particularly with respect to the series connecting switches for each pair of coils.

Referring then to the switch embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13-168, the ultimate switching permutations by way of example are the same as already described. The modification is in combining the functions of switches (2) and (3) in a single-pole double-throw switch in a circuit wherein one switch, such as switch (2), is OFF whenever either or both of the other two switches (I) and (3) are ON. The total number of switch armatures 38 and the axial space for them are accordingly reduced by switch armatures. Incidentally, the stationary contact of switch (2) can be paired with the stationary contact of either switch (I) or (3). This is also true with respect to switch (5) and switches (4) and (6).

For the purposes of illustration the armature of switch (3) of FIG. 9 is eliminated by the armature of switch (2) being reoriented and its armature 38 electrically connected to connection 79 (FIG. 13). The reoriented armature is then movable in opposite directions to electrically contact the stationary contacts of switches (2) and (3). Furthermore, where adjacent switches have a common connection as at 75 or 80 (FIG. I3) the armature 38 of a switch such as switch (1), or (5), can carry the stationary switch (I) contact on an outrigger 82 (FIG. 18) located adjacent to its base end in a position to be engaged by the contact on the armature of the single-pole single-throw switch, such as switch (I) when its armature is moved to shunt the coil B. The same is true for the single-pole double-throw switch armature of switch (5) reoriented to be connected'to connection D with outrigger 82 carrying the stationary contact ofswitch (4).

In this arrangement, however, the common connection at 80 contemplates upward movement of the armature of the reoriented switch (I) or (4) to make contact with switch (2) or (5), respectively. The switch structure 368 for this is shown in FIG. 18 where a left hand outrigger 82L is upwardly spaced to support the stationary contacts of the switches (I) and (4) having the common connections 75 and 78 respectively; the switch 36A embodiment shown in FIG. 17 with a right-hand outrigger 82R can be used for switch (7). The remaining switch (8) is a left-hand outrigger switch 368. Otherwise, the outriggered switches are single-throw switches, each having a base portion 36X provided with a depending wire clamp tongue 53A which ends slightly above an inwardly turned foot portion 84. The bottom of the slot 86 from which the lever end of the tongue 53A has been severed terminates at approximately the level of the upper face of the foot portion 84 (FIG. 19). Because of this interference would occur with the insertion of a bared wire end 53 through the opening 50A and slot 86. To avoid this the edge of the foot portion is flared downwardly as at 88 so that it provides an incline 92 engaged by the end of the bared wire 53 to direct all the thrust force applied to the wire to be applied to deflect the tongue 52A inwardly. As the end of the wire 53 passes below the end of the tongue 52A, the end of the tongue moves beyond the top of the cam incline 92 of the flared portion 86 where the tongue clamps the bared wire against the upper face of the foot to hold it against removal and establish a substantial area of electrically conductive contact.

Thereby, the wire clamp arrangement of FIGS. 17 to 19 locates the wire 53 adjacent to the cover plate 44A which in turn is formed to accommodate the downward directed flare portion 86 as part of the switch assembly by which the parts are held in proper assembled relationship. Moreover, the wire clamp is located directly under the spring conductor 42 so that low as well as high outriggers 82 can be used with adjacent switch armatures and both high and low stationary contacts for adjacent double-throw armatures can be used, there being room for another switch base 36 alongside thereof to carry an electrically isolated stationary contact such as 40 in FIG. 6 in vertical alignment with the upper stationary contact 82. For this purpose terminal brackets such as showing in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be used for stationary contacts for switches (l), (3), (6) and (8) that appear in FIG. 14. The contacts of switch 8) are the heavy contacts for making and breaking the heavy working current. The stationary contact for switches (3) and (6) are located against or in close proximity to the cover plate 14.

The closing of switches (3) and (6) is accomplished by raised cams 56A which force the armatures outwardly. They are shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 where they fit in with recesses 56 in the same paths related to switches (2) and (5) respectively. There is no interference between them since the two in each path, as already noted, are not opened at the same time, and both actuate the V-shaped follower 54 for the doublethrow action. All switches are open where the follower rests against the cylindrical surface of the rotor 32 and 32A. Enough resiliency is present in the armatures 38 and their supports 51 that an overexcursion of the armature in either direction can be accomplished without undue strain upon the armature, even though it is biased to move in the direction of the V-follower points so that it follows the cam contours.

It will be noted how several modifications in the use thereof can be made to provide at least eight possible permutations which can be doubled by the use of a diode or at least l4 possible permutations, 28 with a diode, where three coils having different conductivities are electrically connected on the same side of the armature, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim:

1. In a multiple position rotatable speed control for permutating multiple field coils ofa motor to provide different field impedances for connection to an alternating current,

a housing having a rotor compartment therein,

a unitary rotor journaled in said compartment having a plurality of axially spaced circular tracks thereon defining a plurality of permutated speed stations rotatably attained successively,

switch actuating means including circumferentially spaced cams in said tracks disposed in different working permutations at their respective speed stations,

make and break switches connectable in series with the field coils including stationary elements and a plurality of axially spaced resilient switch armature elements disposed tangentially to the rotor and cooperating with said tracks for actuations by said actuating means in predetermined permutations as the rotor is rotated from station to station,

manually actuated means for rotating said rotor between selected stations, said rotor and manual means having a plurality of coinciding pairs of circumferentially spaced offset elements,

indexing means selectively interengaging coinciding pairs of elements successively and urging full coincidence of said elements, and

drive means interengaging said rotor and rotating means for limited relative rotation therebetween to displace said pairs thereon to less than full coincidence.

2. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said indexing means comprises the armature element of one of said switches,

said rotating means being journaled for relative coaxial rotation with respect to the rotor and at least one of said rotating means and rotor carrying at least one less offset element than the other at one of said speed stations to actuate said armature and open the switch at said station.

3. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said indexing means have a limited circumferential coincidence for closing one of the switches and said switch actuating means on said rotor have a relatively prolonged circumferential effect for closing the remaining switches.

4. The combination called for in claim 2 in which one of said rotating means and said rotor has station indicating means driven by it and said drive means rotates said rotor through the rotating means.

5. The combination called for in claim 2 in which said coincident pairs of elements includes recesses adjacent in tracks actuating a follower carried by said switches.

6. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said indexing means includes follower means operating as a detent interengaging between said pairs of elements on said rotating means and said rotor.

7. In a multiple position rotatable speed control for permutating multiple field coils of a motor to provide different field impedances for connection to an alternating current,

a housing having a rotor compartment therein,

a rotor journaled in said compartment having a plurality of circumferentially disposed tracks thereon and defining a plurality of rotatably attained speed stations,

switch actuating means in said tracks disposed in working coincidence at each speed station,

make and break switches connectable in series with the field coils'including stationary elements and a plurality of axially spaced resilient switch armature elements disposed tangentially to the rotor and cooperating with said tracks for actuations by said actuating means in predetermined permutations as the rotor is rotated from station to station,

means for indexing said rotor at said stations including cam recess elements and follower means operating as a detent interengaging between one of said elements and said rtor,

a drive plate at one end of said rotor,

lost motion drive means interconnecting said rotor and plate,

said drive plate and said rotor having circumferentially coincident axially contiguous recesses cooperating to close one of said armatures at a plurality of stations, said one of said connectors urging coincidence of said recesses when free to do so, and

manual means for rotating said plate to actuate said lost motion device to shift said recesses out of connector closing coincidence to open said connector during movement of the plate.

8, ln a multiple position rotatable permutation switch, a

housing having a compartment therein,

a member reciprocable in said compartment-defining a plurality of successively attained switch stations and including a plurality of parallel tracks thereon having switch permutating actuating means therein disposed in alignment at each of a plurality of speed stations and comprising offset elements in said tracks,

a plurality of switches having axially spaced resilient switch connector armatures carrying followers engaging said tracks intermediate said elements and disposed parallel to said tracks actuated by said actuating means as the member is moved from station to station to actuate said armatures,

manual means for reciprocating said member, and

means including said armatures having follower means engaging said tracks and mating with said offset elements in a detent relationship to actuate the switches and said member and switch actuating means at selected speed stations.

9. In a multiple position rotatable permutation speed control for multiple field coils ofa motor to provide different field impedances for connection to an alternating current,

a rotor member defining a plurality of rotatably attained speed control stations including axially spaced track members having a plurality of permuted switch actuating detent means disposed in axial alignment at each ofa plurality of speed stations,

means rotatably supporting said rotor,

make and break switches for connection in series with the field coils including stationary elements and a plurality of axially spaced resilient switch connector armature members for actuation by said actuating means in predetermined permutations as the rotor is rotated from station to station, and

means for indexing said rotor at said stations including said detent means in which recesses are provided in some of said members and cams engaging in the recesses are provided on the other members cooperating therewith,

10. The combination called for in claim 9 in which said rotor includes a cylindrical hub means at one end journaled by said supporting means,

manually actuated speed station indicator means rotatable with said rotor in interdriven relationship to indicate speed controlled by switches actuated at the respective stations.

11. The combination called for in claim 9 including a plate means coaxial with said rotor and a shaft driven by said manually actuated means extending through said hub for rotating said plate means,

said plate means and said rotor having circumferentially coincident axially contiguous recesses cooperating to close one armature member at a plurality of stations and urged thereby to full coincidence of said recesses when free to do so,

lost motion drive means interconnecting said plate means and rotor for rotating the rotor to displace said contiguous recesses a relative distance less than full coincidence to open the switch of said one armature member.

12. The combination called for in claim 9 in which the recesses of the indexing meansterminate circumferentially in cams, and the cams of the indexing means have terminal slopes matching said recess cams to orient said recesses at permutated stations for closing said switches at said permutated stations.

13. The combination called for in claim 11 in which said lost motion means interconnecting said plate means and said rotor provides relative rotation therebetween in opposite directions from the position of full coincidence,

said one armature member comprising spring means effective in a radial direction to urge said rotor to a predetermined relative resting position and said plate means being positively driven by said manually actuated means.

14. A permutation switch comprising a housing having a compartment:

an indexing member movable in said compartment defining a plurality of parallel tracks thereon,

switch actuating means disposed in said tracks defining predetermined permutation stations along said tracks including transversely related cams in said tracks;

a plurality of switches having parallel armatures lying in a plane above said tracks and actuated by said cams, said switches including electrical contacts reciprocable with respect to each other, one of which is carried by the armature;

a second indexing member including a manual drive means and carrying cams at said stations actuating one of said armatures; and

means for limiting movement between said indexing members to move one of the indexing members from a station to open the switch at said station before the other indexing member is moved from such station.

15. The combination called for in claim 14 in which said switches include:

a single-pole double-throw switch having an armature actu ated by a series of cams in one of the tracks and carrying a movable contact between two stationary contacts; and

a single-pole switch having an armature actuated by a series of said cams in another track,

said single-pole switch armature having a lateral outrigger at its supported end carrying one of said two stationary contacts.

16. In a permutation switch, a manually movable member having a series of cams movable simultaneously and located at a plurality of stations in a plurality of tracks including cams at the ends of recesses in said member and cams at the ends of raised elements on said member in one of the tracks,

a single-pole double-throw switch having an armature actuated by the series of said cams in said one track and carrying a movable contact between two stationary contacts,

a single-pole switch have an armature electrically separate from but parallel to the first armature and actuated by a series of said cams in another track,

said single-pole switch armature having a lateral outrigger at its supported end carrying in electrically conductive relationship one of said two stationary contacts, and

means for connecting circuit connectors separately to each armature, to said other stationary contact and to the stationary contact of the single pole switch.

17. The combination called for in claim 16 including a second manually movable member movable relative to the first-mentioned manually movable member and carrying carns at said stations actuating one of said armatures, and

means mechanically coupling said members for limiting relative movement between said members to move one of the members from a station to open the switch at said station before and during the time the other member is moved from such station to another station.

18. In a multiple position rotatable permutation speed switch, a housing having a rotor compartment therein,

a rotor journaled in said compartment and defining a plurality of circumferential paths thereon having permutated switch actuating means therein, disposed in axial alignment at each speed station,

a plurality of axially spaced resilient switch connector elements coacting with said paths and actuated by said actuating means as the rotor is rotated,

said switch actuating means being continuous in said paths where disposed in adjacent speed stations,

and means carried by said connector elements for indexing said rotor and switch actuating means in a plurality ofsaid speed stations where connector elements are actuated.

19. The combination called for in claim 18 in which said resilient switch connectors are disposed tangentially to the rotor paths and have followers engaged by said switch actuating means.

20. The combination called for in claim 18 in which said switches include a base member secured against a wall of the compartment having an opening bounded on at least one side with a spring blade opposed on the opposite side with a bared wire supporting contact member to receive push-in bared wire connectors in clamped relationship and cover means for said compartment for holding said rotor and base members in place.

21. A permutation switch comprising a housing having a compartment,

a manually movable member in said compartment defining a plurality of parallel tracks thereon,

switch actuating means disposed in said tracks defining predetermined permutation stations along said tracks including transversely related cams in said tracks,

a plurality of switches having parallel armatures lying in a plane above said tracks and actuated by said cams, each of said switches including electrical contacts reciprocable with respect to each other, with one of said contacts carried by the respective armatures,

said armatures having protuberancs spring pressed to engage respective tracks and cams,

said armatures being supported at one end for resilient endwise movement and carrying its contact at its other end,

said cams engaging said protuberances to move the respective armatures longitudinally with a contact wiping action as the contacts make and break engagement.

22. The combination called for in claim 16 in which said armature and cam of the double-throw switch has a center OFF intermediate position between said recessed and raised elements. 

1. In a multiple position rotatable speed control for permutating multiple field coils of a motor to provide different field impedances for connection to an alternating current, a housing having a rotor compartment therein, a unitary rotor journaled in said compartment having a plurality of axially spaced circular tracks thereon defining a plurality of permutated speed stations rotatably attained successively, switch actuating means including circumferentially spaced cams in said tracks disposed in different working permutations at their respective speed stations, make and break switches connectable in series with the field coils including stationary elements and a plurality of axially spaced resilient switch armature elements disposed tangentially to the rotor and cooperating with said tracks for actuations by said actuating means in predetermined permutations as the rotor is rotated from station to station, manually actuated means for rotating said rotor between selected stations, said rotor and manual means having a plurality of coinciding pairs of circumferentially spaced offset elements, indexing means selectively interengaging coinciding pairs of elements successively and urging full coincidence of said elements, and drive means interengaging said rotor and rotating means for limited relative rotation therebetween to displace said pairs thereon to less than full coincidence.
 2. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said indexing means comprises the armature element of one of said switches, said rotating means being journaled for relative coaxial rotation with respect to the rotor and at least one of said rotating means and rotor carrying at least one less offset element than the other at one of said speed stations to actuate said armature and open the switch at said station.
 3. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said indexing means have a limited circumferential coincidence for closing one of the switches and said switch actuating means on said rotor have a relatively prolonged circumferential effect for closing the remaining switches.
 4. The combination called for in claim 2 in which one of said rotating means and said rotor has station indicating means driven by it and said drive means rotates said rotor through the rotating means.
 5. The combination called for in claim 2 in which said coincident pairs of elements includes recesses adjacent in tracks actuating a follower carried by said switches.
 6. The combination called for in claim 1 in which said indexing means includes follower means operating as a detent interengaging between said pairs of elements on said rotating means and said rotor.
 7. In a multiple position rotatable speed control for permutating multiple field coils of a motor to provide different field impedances for connection to an alternating current, a housing having a rotor compartment therein, a rotor journaled in said compartment having a plurality of circumferentially disposed tracks thereon and defining a plurality of rotatably attained speed stations, switch actuating means in said tracks diSposed in working coincidence at each speed station, make and break switches connectable in series with the field coils including stationary elements and a plurality of axially spaced resilient switch armature elements disposed tangentially to the rotor and cooperating with said tracks for actuations by said actuating means in predetermined permutations as the rotor is rotated from station to station, means for indexing said rotor at said stations including cam recess elements and follower means operating as a detent interengaging between one of said elements and said rotor, a drive plate at one end of said rotor, lost motion drive means interconnecting said rotor and plate, said drive plate and said rotor having circumferentially coincident axially contiguous recesses cooperating to close one of said armatures at a plurality of stations, said one of said connectors urging coincidence of said recesses when free to do so, and manual means for rotating said plate to actuate said lost motion device to shift said recesses out of connector closing coincidence to open said connector during movement of the plate.
 8. In a multiple position rotatable permutation switch, a housing having a compartment therein, a member reciprocable in said compartment defining a plurality of successively attained switch stations and including a plurality of parallel tracks thereon having switch permutating actuating means therein disposed in alignment at each of a plurality of speed stations and comprising offset elements in said tracks, a plurality of switches having axially spaced resilient switch connector armatures carrying followers engaging said tracks intermediate said elements and disposed parallel to said tracks actuated by said actuating means as the member is moved from station to station to actuate said armatures, manual means for reciprocating said member, and means including said armatures having follower means engaging said tracks and mating with said offset elements in a detent relationship to actuate the switches and said member and switch actuating means at selected speed stations.
 9. In a multiple position rotatable permutation speed control for multiple field coils of a motor to provide different field impedances for connection to an alternating current, a rotor member defining a plurality of rotatably attained speed control stations including axially spaced track members having a plurality of permuted switch actuating detent means disposed in axial alignment at each of a plurality of speed stations, means rotatably supporting said rotor, make and break switches for connection in series with the field coils including stationary elements and a plurality of axially spaced resilient switch connector armature members for actuation by said actuating means in predetermined permutations as the rotor is rotated from station to station, and means for indexing said rotor at said stations including said detent means in which recesses are provided in some of said members and cams engaging in the recesses are provided on the other members cooperating therewith.
 10. The combination called for in claim 9 in which said rotor includes a cylindrical hub means at one end journaled by said supporting means, manually actuated speed station indicator means rotatable with said rotor in interdriven relationship to indicate speed controlled by switches actuated at the respective stations.
 11. The combination called for in claim 9 including a plate means coaxial with said rotor and a shaft driven by said manually actuated means extending through said hub for rotating said plate means, said plate means and said rotor having circumferentially coincident axially contiguous recesses cooperating to close one armature member at a plurality of stations and urged thereby to full coincidence of said recesses when free to do so, lost motion drive means interconnecting said plate means and rotor for rotating the rotor to dIsplace said contiguous recesses a relative distance less than full coincidence to open the switch of said one armature member.
 12. The combination called for in claim 9 in which the recesses of the indexing means terminate circumferentially in cams, and the cams of the indexing means have terminal slopes matching said recess cams to orient said recesses at permutated stations for closing said switches at said permutated stations.
 13. The combination called for in claim 11 in which said lost motion means interconnecting said plate means and said rotor provides relative rotation therebetween in opposite directions from the position of full coincidence, said one armature member comprising spring means effective in a radial direction to urge said rotor to a predetermined relative resting position and said plate means being positively driven by said manually actuated means.
 14. A permutation switch comprising a housing having a compartment: an indexing member movable in said compartment defining a plurality of parallel tracks thereon, switch actuating means disposed in said tracks defining predetermined permutation stations along said tracks including transversely related cams in said tracks; a plurality of switches having parallel armatures lying in a plane above said tracks and actuated by said cams, said switches including electrical contacts reciprocable with respect to each other, one of which is carried by the armature; a second indexing member including a manual drive means and carrying cams at said stations actuating one of said armatures; and means for limiting movement between said indexing members to move one of the indexing members from a station to open the switch at said station before the other indexing member is moved from such station.
 15. The combination called for in claim 14 in which said switches include: a single-pole double-throw switch having an armature actuated by a series of cams in one of the tracks and carrying a movable contact between two stationary contacts; and a single-pole switch having an armature actuated by a series of said cams in another track, said single-pole switch armature having a lateral outrigger at its supported end carrying one of said two stationary contacts.
 16. In a permutation switch, a manually movable member having a series of cams movable simultaneously and located at a plurality of stations in a plurality of tracks including cams at the ends of recesses in said member and cams at the ends of raised elements on said member in one of the tracks, a single-pole double-throw switch having an armature actuated by the series of said cams in said one track and carrying a movable contact between two stationary contacts, a single-pole switch have an armature electrically separate from but parallel to the first armature and actuated by a series of said cams in another track, said single-pole switch armature having a lateral outrigger at its supported end carrying in electrically conductive relationship one of said two stationary contacts, and means for connecting circuit connectors separately to each armature, to said other stationary contact and to the stationary contact of the single pole switch.
 17. The combination called for in claim 16 including a second manually movable member movable relative to the first-mentioned manually movable member and carrying cams at said stations actuating one of said armatures, and means mechanically coupling said members for limiting relative movement between said members to move one of the members from a station to open the switch at said station before and during the time the other member is moved from such station to another station.
 18. In a multiple position rotatable permutation speed switch, a housing having a rotor compartment therein, a rotor journaled in said compartment and defining a plurality of circumferential paths thereon having permutated switch actuating means therein, disposed in Axial alignment at each speed station, a plurality of axially spaced resilient switch connector elements coacting with said paths and actuated by said actuating means as the rotor is rotated, said switch actuating means being continuous in said paths where disposed in adjacent speed stations, and means carried by said connector elements for indexing said rotor and switch actuating means in a plurality of said speed stations where connector elements are actuated.
 19. The combination called for in claim 18 in which said resilient switch connectors are disposed tangentially to the rotor paths and have followers engaged by said switch actuating means.
 20. The combination called for in claim 18 in which said switches include a base member secured against a wall of the compartment having an opening bounded on at least one side with a spring blade opposed on the opposite side with a bared wire supporting contact member to receive push-in bared wire connectors in clamped relationship and cover means for said compartment for holding said rotor and base members in place.
 21. A permutation switch comprising a housing having a compartment, a manually movable member in said compartment defining a plurality of parallel tracks thereon, switch actuating means disposed in said tracks defining predetermined permutation stations along said tracks including transversely related cams in said tracks, a plurality of switches having parallel armatures lying in a plane above said tracks and actuated by said cams, each of said switches including electrical contacts reciprocable with respect to each other with one of said contacts carried by the respective armatures, said armatures having protuberances spring pressed to engage respective tracks and cams, said armatures being supported at one end for resilient endwise movement and carrying its contact at its other end, said cams engaging said protuberances to move the respective armatures longitudinally with a contact wiping action as the contacts make and break engagement.
 22. The combination called for in claim 16 in which said armature and cam of the double-throw switch has a center OFF intermediate position between said recessed and raised elements. 